Stopping Conflict in Israel-Palestine
Preamble
a) Palestine has been recognised as a sovereign state by 138 of 193 UN member states.
b) East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and Gaza are illegally occupied by Israel; and Gaza has been subject to 16 years of blockade;
c) the UK, at the UN Security Council on 18 October 2023, refused to vote for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza;
d) Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, B’tselem and the South African government recognise that the state of Israel is enacting a system of apartheid; and
e) the capture and detention of civilians without legal process as a form of punishment is a breach of the Fourth 1949 Geneva Convention.
This Council therefore believes :-
a) all atrocities committed against civilians must be condemned and investigated;
b) all forms of racism, including anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have no place in our Borough and condemns any attacks on Palestinian, Jewish or Muslim people;
c) all political leaders have a responsibility to try to prevent genocide; and
d) the only one way to secure peace between Israelis and Palestinians is for a just political settlement based on the end of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and an end to what one UN Special Rapporteur has described as “apartheid practices”, and another has described “settler-colonialism” and “ethnic cleansing”;
Resolution
This Council resolves :-
a) to call upon the UK Government to :-
a. call for an immediate ceasefire and to vote for this at the UN;
b. call for an immediate release of all civilians captured and detained without legal process;
c. cease all arms sales to Israel and end military aid for Israel; and
d. call on Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians;
b) requests the Chief Executive to submit this Motion to the UK Government.
Minutes:
The following Motion was moved by Councillor Snedker, and seconded by Councillor Mammolotti:
Stopping Conflict in Israel-Palestine
Preamble
a)
Palestine has been recognised as a sovereign state
by 138 of 193 UN member states;
b)
East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and
Gaza are illegally occupied by Israel; and Gaza has been subject to
16 years of blockade;
c)
the UK, at the UN Security Council on 18 October
2023, refused to vote for “humanitarian pauses” to
deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza;
d)
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International,
B’tselem and the South African government recognise that the
state of Israel is enacting a system of apartheid; and
e) the capture and detention of civilians without legal process as a form of punishment is a breach of the Fourth 1949 Geneva Convention.
This Council therefore believes:-
a)
all atrocities committed against civilians must be
condemned and investigated;
b)
all forms of racism, including anti-Palestinian
racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have no place in our Borough
and condemns any attacks on Palestinian, Jewish or Muslim
people;
c) all political leaders have a responsibility to try to prevent genocide; and
d) the only one way to secure peace between Israelis and Palestinians is for a just political settlement based on the end of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and an end to what one UN Special Rapporteur has described as “apartheid practices”, and another has described “settler-colonialism” and “ethnic cleansing”;
This Council resolves:-
a) to call upon the UK Government to :-
a. call for an immediate ceasefire and to vote for this at the UN;
b. call for an immediate release of all civilians captured and detained
without legal process;
c. cease all arms sales to Israel and end military aid for Israel; and
d. call on Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians;
b) requests the Chief Executive to submit this Motion to the UK Government.
The following Amendment to the Motion was moved by Councillor Harker, and seconded by Councillor Dr. Riley:
Preamble
a)
In recent weeks there has been a dramatic escalation
in the conflict in Palestine and Israel.
b)
Many thousands of civilians have been killed and
hundreds of hostages taken.
c)
The capture and detention of civilians without legal
process as a form of punishment is a breach of the fourth 1949
Geneva Convention.
d)
On Wednesday 22 November, Israel and Hamas agreed a
four-day truce.
e) The situation in Israel and Palestine remains uncertain.
This Council therefore believes:-
a)
all atrocities committed against civilians must be
condemned and investigated;
b)
all hostages must be released;
c)
It is essential that humanitarian aid is allowed to
get through to Gaza;
d)
All people living in Gaza should have access to
energy supplies, water, food and medical assistance;
e)
all forms of racism, based on nationality, race,
religion or any other basis, including anti-Semitism and
Islamophobia have no place in our Borough and condemns any attacks
on any individual or community; and
f) the only one way to secure peace lasting between Israelis and Palestinians is for peace talks based on creating a two-state solution.
This Council resolves:-
a) to call upon the UK Government to :-
(i) support all efforts in Israel and Palestine to :-
(a) end all violence against civilians;
(b) secure the release of all hostages;
(c) avert a humanitarian disaster in Gaza; and
(d) bring about a lasting peace, based on a two state solution
(ii) build on existing efforts to raise awareness of and challenge all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia; and
(iii) support all of our communities to feel safe.
(b) That the Chief Executive be requested to submit this Motion to the UK Government.
At the request of five Members, a Named Vote was taken of those Members present at the meeting and there appeared:
For the Amendment: The Mayor; Councillors Allen, Anderson, Baker, Beckett, Coe, Crumbie, Curry, Dillon, Harker, Haszeldine, Johnson, Kane, Layton, McCollom, McEwan, McGill, M. Nicholson, Porter, Dr. Riley and Wallis (21)
Against the Amendment: Councillors Ali, Henderson, Holroyd, Mahmud, Mammolotti, Ray, Robinson, Snedker and Toms (9)
Abstentions: Councillors Garner, Renton, Roche and Storr (4).
(NOTE: Prior to the consideration of the Motion, and the subsequent vote, Members of the Conservative Group and Councillor K. Nicholson withdrew from the meeting).
The Amendment was Carried.
The Amendment became the Substantive Motion and was put to the meeting and carried.
(NOTE: The Mayor used her discretion to vary the Agenda, and took the items at Minute 48 (1) and Minute 48 (2) immediately following the Questions submitted at Minute 42.